I have mentioned that Noa has named her favorite baby doll “baby Selah” after our friends, Liz and Yuya’s new baby. Selah Kaye Kuwahara was born in November and is just as cute as can be. I wanted to post a photo of her preciousness. Isn’t she perfect??
We are so thankful for her life and the family she has been born into. Yuya and Liz are a fabulous couple who have such a heart for seeing God’s kingdom grow here in Japan. They are already great parents and Selah is so blessed to have them for her mom and dad.
And we are so blessed to have them as friends. I especially, am so thankful for God placing Liz in my life and the friendship and accountability and companionship that He has provided through her. Even though we may not live in Japan together for much longer, I pray that God keeps us close and continues to bless both of us through this friendship in years to come. And I am so glad that we get to be moms together now.
Noa, who is obsessed with both baby Selahs, is also really enjoying be a mom with us. After I took the above picture, Noa wanted the doll baby Selah in on the photo shoot too. Here is the picture she had me take of her doll:
(yes, i just took up precious internet space to post a photo of a doll… I did it for Noa, who takes great pride in her baby 
The three words that are making everything in my life – from her getting dressed to getting her in her carseat – take about 5 times as long. I’m watching her attempt to put on her tights right now. Let’s just say her bottom might be a bit sore from falling down about 24 times…
Martha opening gifts
Noa opening a present
a little bunny with Aunt Hannah!
a beauty kit, complete with mirror and comb
Seth with his bulletin board, made by Noa (with help from mom)
Hannah's new earings
girls in their footy pajamas
The "last four" Christmas staircase photo
Noll babies staircase photo
all of us kids plus Rusty the dog
funny photo!
Noa and her Baba
yummy and delicious and amazing Christmas breakfast
We went out to the onsen (public baths) mid-day to get clean and fresh
and then headed into the city to eat Ramen at our favorite ramen shop (owned and run by dear friends from church)
Noa lovin' some noodles
Then out to Starbucks and to enjoy the lights in the park
Mark and Mom (so happy to have her son home...)
PeAce!
This was such a great two days and we’re so thankful to have been close enough to celebrate with family. My brother, Mark, came back from college on the 27th so we had our family celebration the 28th/29th all together. Us four Nolls went and spent the night at mom and dad’s house and had a great time. We don’t know when we’ll be together again for this holiday, or even when we will live in the same country together, so we truly treasured this time to be with our Iverson family.
Thank you, Lord, for such a special time and for the blessing of living close to family!
Continue reading about Iverson Family Christmas Celebration 2008
I have been meaning to post this for a while but just haven’t gotten around to it. We had a blast celebrating Christmas here in Japan and it was so exciting to see the ways that God was working. He is so good. Here are some photos and highlights from the season:
Translation Appreciation Dinner
The school threw a dinner to show appreciation for the many people who translated an Astronomy textbook for the elementary classes. It has been wonderful for all the elementary kids (in both the English and Japanese tracks) to get to take this class together this year. We are so thankful for the many people who used their time and gifts to make it possible. It was a festive night of celebrating, and even getting to hear a talk by a visiting professor of Astronomy. We had a great time helping to prepare and serve the dinner, as well as enjoying the festive atmosphere with friends.
Elementary Kids’ Christmas Party
We really had fun one Friday after school, having all the elementary students over for a Christmas party. We are so thankful that God has not only called these children’s parents into ministry here in Japan, but that he has called each one them too. Eric really enjoys getting to teach these kids, and the girls and I always have a great time when we get to hang out too. Noa LOVES going to the school over lunch break. We actually watched the movie (the Polar Express) in Japanese since most of the kids are bilingual or trilingual anyway. It was such a fun afternoon.
Toke Kids’ Christmas Party
It was so fun to help our friends, the Nagata’s throw a Christmas party one Sunday morning for the kids in their neighborhood. We sang, played games, made crafts, they heard the Christmas story, and Santa Clause even showed up again this year (but Eric made me promise not to post photos of that part).
Sumodon Christmas Party
We had a great time at the Sumodon (our Church’s young adults group) Christmas party. Me and several friends made homemade pizza for the evening and had a ton of fun getting ready. The party was a blast and we met so many new people, many who came to the church building for the first time.
Other fun stuff
We had our last Moms’ and Kids’ club of the year and I was so encouraged to realize what a great community of moms we have who come regularly. I am so excited for our meetings in this new year. This is Noa with her friend Mirai whose mom helps to run Moms’ and Kids’.Noa calls him “Rai Rai” and they are good friends.
My friend Chizuka teaches hip hop dance classes and her students had their first recital on the 23rd. It was so exciting to finally get to watch these kids who we pray for together and to see them dancing their little hearts out to worship music. I am so excited that they have Chizuka in their lives and I can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to use her gifts and love for kids for His kingdom here in Japan.
I got to visit with my dear childhood friend, Sayaka, and her mom on the 26th. She is an airline stewardess so we don’t get to see eachother often, but it was such a treat to get together for coffee at my mom’s on the 26th.
And some Sister Sweetness (for good measure):
